Gas leak following power outage led to fire that destroyed Howard Avenue home in New Haven (video, photos)

Workers from the Southern Connecticut Gas Co. dig in front of the house that burned down at 305 Howard Ave. in New Haven. According to New Haven fire chief Michael Grant, they were checking the gas mains for leaks.
Peter Casolino/Register

On Tuesday, Grant said an engine crew made the rounds in the neighborhood to "allay any fears."

Fire investigators concluded that on Saturday there had been a leak in a feeder gas line somewhere inside the house and the natural gas pooled in the basement.

While the house has an oil furnace, a water heater and stove were fueled by natural gas.

The ignition source appears to have been the furnace. The neighborhood had a power outage overnight and United Illuminating Co. crews restored the power just before the blast.

"We feel with the accumulation of gas from an unknown source, with the power being turned back on the furnace went on -- that was the ignition source -- ignited the gas and blew the building up," Grant said.

Several pipes were removed and sent to a laboratory to be forensically tested.

The blast shook neighboring houses.

Fire investigators, interviewing the residents, were given this account: The family, three adults and two children, were in their beds on the second floor when the violent explosion occurred. The house began collapsing around them. The walls went out and the second floor pancaked down into the main living area, taking the family with it. Somehow, the family managed to find an opening at the rear of the house and scrambled out to safety.

Gas company workers were back on Howard Avenue digging up the street as they continued to pressure test gas mains and lines outside to verify there were no breaches.

None have been found, Grant said, and once the fire was out on Saturday, Southern Connecticut Gas Co. workers and firefighters checked outside with meters and also other homes in the area to make sure there was no lingering danger.